Rai Yoyo

Rai Yoyo is an Italian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana, Italy's state-owned public-service broadcaster. It is positioned within the RAI television portfolio as a dedicated service for very young viewers, with programming aimed chiefly at children between two and five years old. Its schedule is built around preschool entertainment, animated series, educational content, and familiar characters suitable for early-childhood audiences. The channel originated in the restructuring of RaiSat Ragazzi, a children’s television service that was divided on 1 November 2006 into two separately focused channels: RaiSat Yoyo for preschool viewers and RaiSat Smash for older children and teenagers. This split gave RAI a clearer audience strategy by separating early-childhood programming from content intended for a more mature youth audience. In its initial pay-television phase, RaiSat Yoyo carried international preschool programmes including Postman Pat, Peppa Pig, and Fifi and the Flowertots. A major distribution change took place on 31 July 2009, when RaiSat Yoyo became available free to air through the Tivù Sat satellite platform. At the same time, the channel was replaced by Nick Jr. on Sky Italia. The move expanded its role as a broadly accessible public-service children’s channel rather than a service limited to a particular subscription platform. On 18 May 2010, RAI implemented a broad channel rebranding that removed the RaiSat naming convention. RaiSat Yoyo consequently became Rai Yoyo. The shorter name aligned the service with RAI’s wider portfolio and made the channel’s public identity more direct and recognizable. Rai Yoyo continued to focus on preschool viewers under the new branding. In May 2016, Rai Yoyo stopped carrying advertising on air. This decision reinforced its public-service positioning and distinguished the channel from many commercial children’s networks. The channel remains part of RAI’s television offering and is also represented through RaiPlay’s live-streaming service. Its principal role is to provide accessible, age-appropriate programming for Italy’s youngest television audience while supporting RAI’s broader educational and cultural remit.

Rai Yoyo developed from RAI’s earlier children’s television structure. On 1 November 2006, the broadcaster divided RaiSat Ragazzi into two services with different age targets. RaiSat Yoyo was created for preschool children, while RaiSat Smash was intended for older children and teenagers. The separation allowed RAI to organize its children’s output around more specific developmental and viewing needs. During its early period as RaiSat Yoyo, the service carried international preschool programming, including Postman Pat, Peppa Pig, and Fifi and the Flowertots. These programmes complemented RAI’s own children’s broadcasting and established the channel as a destination for young viewers, especially those in the preschool age range. On 31 July 2009, RaiSat Yoyo became a free-to-air service on the Tivù Sat satellite platform. This broadened access to the channel and was an important change in its distribution model. Its position on Sky Italia was taken by Nick Jr., separating RaiSat Yoyo’s free-to-air satellite presence from the commercial subscription platform. RAI subsequently undertook a broad rebranding of its television channels. On 18 May 2010, the RaiSat name was discontinued and RaiSat Yoyo became Rai Yoyo. The new identity made the channel more visibly part of the main RAI brand family while preserving its preschool focus. In May 2016, Rai Yoyo stopped broadcasting advertising. The change emphasized the channel’s public-service role and created a more clearly non-commercial environment for its young audience. Rai Yoyo has continued as RAI’s principal preschool television service in Italy, combining entertainment and educational programming. It is also available as a live stream through RaiPlay, extending the channel’s reach beyond conventional television distribution.

• 2016

  End of on-air advertising

  [1]Rai Yoyoen.wikipedia.org

  Rai Yoyo stopped broadcasting advertisements, reinforcing its public-service positioning for preschool audiences.

• 2010

  Rebranding as Rai Yoyo

  [1]Rai Yoyoen.wikipedia.org

  As part of RAI’s wider channel rebrand, the RaiSat name was retired and RaiSat Yoyo became Rai Yoyo.

• 2009

  Free-to-air satellite distribution

  [1]Rai Yoyoen.wikipedia.org

  RaiSat Yoyo became a free-to-air channel on the Tivù Sat satellite platform and was replaced by Nick Jr. on Sky Italia.

• 2006

  Creation of RaiSat Yoyo

  [1]Rai Yoyoen.wikipedia.org

  RaiSat Ragazzi was divided into RaiSat Yoyo, aimed at preschool children, and RaiSat Smash, aimed at older children and teenagers.

A public-service preschool television channel offering age-appropriate entertainment and educational programming for young children in Italy, with an emphasis on accessibility and an advertising-free broadcast model.

• Preschool television channel · 2006

  Rai Yoyo

  Rai Yoyo is RAI’s dedicated Italian television service for preschool children, particularly viewers between two and five years old. Its schedule combines animated series, children’s entertainment, and educational programming. The channel originated as RaiSat Yoyo in 2006, adopted the Rai Yoyo name in 2010, and stopped carrying on-air advertising in 2016. It is distributed through television platforms and is also offered as a live stream through RaiPlay.

• Digital television streaming

  Rai Yoyo live stream

  The Rai Yoyo live stream extends the channel’s broadcast schedule to RaiPlay, RAI’s digital platform. It provides online access to the linear channel for viewers in its intended market, complementing conventional television distribution.

• 2016

  End on-air advertisingStrategy

  Background

  RAI adjusted the channel’s commercial model and public-service presentation.

  Action taken

  Rai Yoyo stopped broadcasting advertisements on air.

  Aftermath

  The channel adopted a more distinctly non-commercial environment for its young audience.

  Source

• 2010

  Adopt the Rai Yoyo nameOther

  Background

  RAI rebranded its television channels and retired the RaiSat naming system.

  Action taken

  RaiSat Yoyo was renamed Rai Yoyo.

  Aftermath

  The channel continued its preschool mission under a name more closely aligned with the main RAI brand.

  Source

• 2009

  Move to free-to-air satellite distributionStrategy

  Background

  RAI changed the channel’s distribution arrangements as part of its broader free-to-air satellite presence.

  Action taken

  RaiSat Yoyo became free to air on Tivù Sat and was replaced by Nick Jr. on Sky Italia.

  Aftermath

  The channel became more broadly accessible through Tivù Sat while its Sky Italia carriage ended.

  Source

• 2006

  Separate preschool and older-child servicesStrategy

  Background

  RAI reorganized RaiSat Ragazzi to create more sharply targeted channels for different age groups.

  Action taken

  The broadcaster split the service into RaiSat Yoyo for preschoolers and RaiSat Smash for older children and teenagers.

  Aftermath

  RaiSat Yoyo became RAI’s dedicated preschool-focused channel.

  Source

1. 1Rai Yoyoen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Rai Yoyo live streamraiplay.it